Clamp



All@ 2, 1960 K. M. EDMoNps 2,947,275

CLAMP Filed July 15, 1957 CLAMP M. Edmonds, 8313 Eastern Ave., BellGardens, Calif.

Filed VJuly 1s, 1957, ser. No. 672,078 y1 claim. (c1. 11s-49) torscomprise a core of tubes formed to provide a large heat radiatingsurface, with a top water tank extending \across. the tops of theradiator tubes and a bottom tank connecting the lower ends of the tubes,the core and top and bottom tanks being connected together in anysuitable manner and mounted in the engine compartment by means of a widestrap or hanger passing around the vertical edges of'the radiator shelland under the .bottom tank and which is secured over the ends of the topwater tank. This strap or hanger has to be soldered or brazed or spotwelded in close contacting position with the radiator shell, and thetool of this invention is intended to pull the ends of the hanger straptogether and hold the strap securely and in close contact against theradiator core or shell while the strap is being accurately fitted intoposition, and then soldered or brazed to the parts of the radiatorshell. v

While tools of the hand operated clamp type have been proposed for thepurposes referred to, they were not suited for fast and accurate use,such as is needed in modern garages.

The means provided on the hangers for engagement by the tools bywhichthe ends of hanger are drawn together are usually small ears struckup from the ends of the straps, and it is easy for the points of theclamp engaging the ears to slip off the ears while the clamp is beingtightened, or for the iingers of the clamp to slack back and work freeof the ears.

'Ihe general object of my invention is to provide a novel radiatorhanger manipulating tool free from the drawbacks referred to.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel clamp for holdingradiator hangers in position around the radiator shell, the clamp beingprovided with novel means for effecting, by a very rapid movement, thegripping of the hanger by the clamp, and whereby the grip of the clampis retained without danger of the arms `,of the clamp slipping oif thehanger, while the releasing movement of the clamp is equally rapid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel, simple and strongclamping device of the kind described, particularly adapted for rapidhandling of and efficiently securing the hanger strap to automobileradiators.

A further object is to provide a novel clamp means forl securely holdinga radiator hanger strap against the radiator shell or core when thehanger strap is being soldered thereto (either in original assembly ofthe radiator and its associated hanger strap, or, in assembly thereofafter the radiator core has been repaired), and which will continuouslyapply clamping pressure to the strap so that any slack occasioned bymelting a lump of solder between the strap and core during assemblyoperations will be automatically taken up.

Other objects, advantages and features of my invention will hereinafterappear from the following specification, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying illustrative g United States d Y Fr. A Qv 1C@ 2,941,275

f f f PatentedV Aug. 2,

drawings showingY an embodiment of the invention at pres-l ent deemedpreferable by me.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the invention in` a form I, atpresent, deem preferable.` v `Figure 1 is a front elevational viewshowing the cl p of my invention holding a hanger in position on anautomobile radiator. Y Fig. 2 is a sideA elevational view of the clamp,drawn" on a larger scale andA with some parts shown in section; to morefully disclose interior construction. Fig. 3 is -a section on line 3 3,Fig. 2. Pig. 4 is a fragmentary section on line if-4,' Fig'.r 1, drawnonalargerscale; and g A Y Q; Fig. 5 is a detail in' vertical section andon ala'r'ger-v scale, of the valve operating means for the device.

Referring now to Figure 1, a radiator is generallyiril` dicatedat 10 andthe hanger lstrap running around the vertical edges, bottom, andportions of the top thereof, ,is indicated at 11. Ears 12 and 13 arestruck up froni'and adjacent tothe ends of the hanger strap andoverlietlieA opposite ends ofthe top tank 14, the parts referred-to be'ing those found in most radiators for motor vehicles.

Theclamp of Vmy invention, best shown in'Fig. 2, comprises a slide bar15 preferablyrectangular in cross-sel:- tion, and on which brackets 16and 17 are slidably mounted with a close sliding lit thereon.

An ann 18 is pivoted by bolt 19 offset from center in bracket 16 and theupper end of arm 18 being squared off and lying spaced from but closelyadjacent to, and in juxtaposition with, the lower edge of bar 1S, thecorner 18a contacting the under edge of slide bar 15 to provide adogging action between arm 18 and bar 15 to prevent sliding movement ofbracket 16 on the bar 15. The lower end of the arm 18 is hooked inwardlyand brought to a tapered point 20, so that such point 20 may be fullyinserted under ear 12.

The bracket 17 is preferably formed integral with a depending arm 21,the lower end of which is formed similarly to that of arm 18 and isbrought to a tapered point 22, so that it may be fully inserted underear 13.

The operating means for the clamp is provided by a pneumatic cylinder23, preferably welded to the end of bar 15 at the end opposite to thaton which bracket 16 is mounted.

The cylinder 23 contains a piston 24, a piston rod 25 extending from thepiston to bracket 17, to which it is secured in any convenient manner. Atake-oif spring 26 is larranged between the piston 24 and the inner endof the cylinder through which the piston rod 25 extends.

Admission of compressed air to the cylinder 23 is controlled by a valve27 which comprises an inlet port 28 (to which the pressure `air is ledby flexible hose 29), and an exhaust port 30. An air passage 31 connectsthe inlet and exhaust ports and connects through port 32 with theinterior of the cylinder 23. The inlet and exhaust ports 28, 30 arecontrolled by a valve spindle 33 manually moved by a handle 34 to admitcompressed air to the cylinder while closing the exhaust port 30 or toclose the inlet port 28 while opening the 'exhaust port 30.

If it is found that the ears 12 and 13' on a particular hanger do notafford a suicient holding surface for the points 20, 22 of the arms ofthe clamp, a short length of small rod 40 may be welded or brazed on theoutside of, and adjacent the tapered points 20, 22 of each arm 18, 21 toprevent the points of the arms from tilting and slipping out from underthe ears, as may otherwise happen when using or operating the clamp.

Operation In using the hanger clamp to hold the hanger strap around theedge of a radiator, the hanger is bent approximately to the contour ofthe edge of the radiator core and withthe pressure 'air cut olf orreleased from cylinder ton will force arm 21 toward arm 1S and n.850.011 .'Sthis happengarm 18 will be tilted slightly on pivot bolt 19and will cause the corner 18a to bite into Yand gripobar 15,V

thus preventing bracket 16 from allowing bar 15 from being drawn throughit and forcing the ends of the hanger strap toward each other so as toyobtain a secure and tight Contact of the hanger strap with'the shell ofthe radiator, during vthe soldering, or otherwise securing of the strapto the core, as by bravzing or spot welding; and at the same time theair pressure is continuously exerting a clamping effecten the arms, andautomatically takes up'any slack occuring between the strap and shell inthe event a lump of solder is .between the twoand is melted.

While a preferred embodiment has been specifically described andillustrated, it is to be understood that various changes may be madewithin the scope of my invention and without departing from the spiritor vscope thereof, and it is intended that all matter contained in theaccompanying specification and drawing as to its use shall beinterpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

, A clamp comprising an elongate Vslide bar; a pair of bracket membersslidably mounted in spaced relation on said bar; a clamp arm dependingfrom and pivotall'y connected to one of said bracket members and adaptedto be maintained in an adjusted fixed position along said slide bar;said pivoted clamp arm being mounted in one of said bracket members toposition one end of said arm so that it will jam with the bar when thefree end of the arm is engaged with Ian object to be clamped; anotherclamp arm depending from the other Vof said bracket members;

. iluid pressure operating means mounted on one end of said bar, andcomprising a fluid cylinder connected to one end of said slide bar, apiston within said cylinder, a piston rod extending from said piston to,and connected to the other of said bracket members; valve meansassociated with said operating means whereby lluid under prespointedfree ends of said arms to prevent tiltingof the clamp arms when inengagement with an article to be clamped.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSGodfrey Apr. 16, 1889 665,208 Goodwin Jan. 1, 1901 2,165,504 PfauserJuly 11, 1939 2,575,412 Fechter Nov. 20, 1951

